TOM Couch produced a masterclass against Hobart City to help North Launceston snap a two-game losing streak on Saturday.
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The Northern Bombers coach finished with seven majors in the 21.13 (139) to 11.7 (73) victory on his 29th birthday at North Hobart Oval.
Couch booted one major in the opening term, three in the second and two after half time out of the midfield to secure man-of-the-match honours and take his season tally to 29 goals.
North trailed by six points at quarter time but lifted its tackling pressure and work rate thereafter to completely control the match.
The joint ladder leaders converted eight second-stanza goals to the Demons’ two to lead by 31 points at the main change, which they extend to 43 points with a term to play. The Bombers sent through six goals in the final quarter to round off the demolition with skipper Taylor Whitford, Jay Lockhart and Brad Cox-Goodyer controlling the centre passage.
Whitford, Cox-Goodyer and Bart McCulloch ended up with three goals apiece.
Callum Kilpatrick kicked four goals for the Demons who were well served by Hugh Williams, Jayden Charlton and Sam Caswell.
Couch said North entered the match with an intention to be physical.
“The turning point five minutes into the second quarter was Whitford and Cox-Goodyer going into the midfield after starting a bit deeper,” Couch said.
“They have been struggling with injury for the last four weeks and they just said ‘enough is enough’ and pretty much put themselves on the ball and turned the game for us along with Lockhart.
“We tried a few things with (Mark) Walsh playing down back, we put Lockhart in the middle and was dangerous with a few clearances.
“Tyran Mansell also played his best game for the club in what was up there with the Lauderdale match as the most physical game we have played all year.”